Many years ago Anna walked the cobblestone streets of the village with her brother Velkan. It was yet another cloudy over cast day and many people were loading up their supplies from the market. On their way back home, Anna noticed a man. He was average height with dark shoulder length hair. He was dressed in rags and was typically handsome, but had beautiful striking blue eyes. He stood with a group of men next to the tavern. Walking past, Anna made eye contact with him for a brief second before he smiled at her. Blushing, Anna looked away and held onto her brother's arm tighter. Coming towards the bridge, Anna thought if she should look over her shoulder or not at the man. As she was caught up in her day dream, she lost her footing and her knee high boot heel snapped.

"Ah!"

Anna stumbled and fell hard onto the ground, hitting her knee. Sitting there she hissed out in pain as Velkan kneeled down beside her.

"Anna?!"

Just then the man along with a few others ran over, Anna never felt so embarrassed before in her entire life. The man also kneeled down beside Velkan before his hands went over to her ankle.

"Does this hurt?"

Anna hissed out in pain again, struggling to hold back tears.

"Yes…"

"I told you these blasted things will break your neck one day."

Velkan scolded her before the man looked up at her and faintly smiled.

"Your Valerious' children?"

"That's right."

"Well your family must be worried about you."

"I wouldn't say that…"

The men all eyed each other.

Anna noticed the man's hand was still on her ankle of her boot. Watching him speak with Velkan, her stomach had the strangest feel about it as her heart began to race.

"We should move her right away, we'll get some ice and then perhaps send a carriage?"

Velkan nodded.

Before Anna could say anything, the man bent down and lifted her up in a single scope and held her tightly in his arms. Anna tried to control her breathing before she looked at him and then his eyes.

"We'll bring her to the tavern come back as soon as you can."

Velkan nodded before running in the direction of their mansion in the hills. The man then followed the others into the tavern before Anna noticed her breasts were pressing against his chest. Lowering her eyes she felt so stupid about what happened and being fussed over like this.

Within moments they were inside the warm tavern. The man ordered the bartender for some whiskey and ice. The others cleared off the wooden bar before the man laid her down.

"This all right?"

Anna quickly nodded.

"Yes thank you."

Taking off his coat, he bundled it up and stuffed it behind her so she could lay back. Faintly smiling she softly thanked him in a lowered voice before he took her boot off. Slipping it off her smooth slender leg, his bare hands touched her skin and then moved to her throbbing ankle.

Anna's face filled with pain before the man looked over.

"It's swelling up."

Right away the bartender brought over the whiskey and ice. The man took a large piece of put it in a cloth. Settling it on Anna's swollen skin, she sighed.

"Too cold?"

"No, feels nice."

The man smiled before offering her the bottle of whiskey.

"Will dull the pain."

Anna slowly took it.

"Thank you…"

"Igor."

"Igor…"

The man smiled.

"I know an odd name I have, doesn't suit me the best does it?"

Anna smiled before taking a sip of the strong tasting whiskey.

"I like it, I'm Anna."

Offering her hand, she was suspired as he kissed it.

"A pleasure Anna."

Both locked eyes before Anna laughed.

"I guess this is a silly way of meeting someone."

Igor pressed the ice against her ankle smiling.

"I don't think so, it was faith."

Anna felt herself blushing.

"Your not from around here are you?"

The man shook his head.

"I'm a traveler…been around for many years, decided to see if I could help after hearing of all the troubles you've had."

"That's very kind of you."

"Well I believe there are monsters in this world, and all of them have to be stopped."

Anna couldn't help but looking deeply into his dark blue eyes before Velkan came rushing in.

"I got the carriage."

Igor slipped his arms around Anna again and carried her out to the carriage. Velkan helped open the door as he slid her in.

"Would you care to ride with us?"

"Anna…"

Velkan gave a very uneasy look at his sister as she smiled up at Igor from inside the carriage.

"Velkan, where are your manners…this man helped me."

"Now isn't a time to invite strangers into our home…"

"He isn't a monster Velkan."

The siblings gave each other a very uneasy and strong look before Igor stepped back and cleared his throat.

"Your brother is right Anna, you must watch out for everything now…"

Anna shook her head.

"No, I want you to come back and have dinner with us, my brother doesn't have much manners."

Velkan shot his sister a look before dropping his eyes in embarrassment.

"I'm very sorry, you helped my sister and I'm acting like a fool."

Both men shook hands.

"I understand you want to protect her."

"Please come have dinner with us."

Igor looked at Velkan and Anna before smiling.

"It would be my pleasure."

Smiling, Anna slid over so he could sit inside. Thanking her brother with her eyes, she couldn't stop staring at him the entire ride back. Once they arrived the help had all ready made a nice warm meal for the three of them. Putting her sore leg up, Anna sat at the head of the table and enjoyed their evening as they ate, drank wine, and talked. Igor didn't say much other then the fact he was from the middle East. Velkan did most of the talking about their troubles and how cared they were of anything happening.

Outside it began to rain.

"I should get going…"

Igor stood up pushing himself away from the table.

"Thank you for that meal, the best I've had in years."

"Your not leaving in that, it's pouring."

Velkan pointed out the window as it hit the glass.

"I have a nice room in the inn and I'm sure it isn't as bad as it looks outside…"

"Please stay…"

Anna's hand went over and touched Igor's.

Both looked at each other and smiled.

"We have plenty of room, we'll have your help fix it up for you."

Igor looked at the two of them.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

An hour later, the mansion was dark as thunder and lighting stuck in the night sky. Anna now in her nightdress, laid in her giant bed with her sore leg propped up. Laying there she tossed and turned thinking of Igor and his beautiful eyes…

Meanwhile in Igor's room, he stood in front of the full length mirror.

Instead of the handsome man Anna had seen, an terrible monster showed in the reflection. He was hunched down, his face pulled back and deformed. His hair like straw as he took heavy breaths. He has been this ever since he could remember. Always being the slave to these monsters.

It was all an illusion that nobody could see.

"Go to her…finish it."

His master's voice said in the darkness of the air.

Slowly nodding he looked at himself in the mirror one last time before going to Anna's room.